Spotify’s Royalty Changes Revisited
Remember when Spotify announced all those changes to their royalty systems? I’m guessing you do, because it was only a few months ago and because a lot of people (including the folks on this reddit thread, the guy in this video, and maybe, dare I say it, you) were very upset. It was a hot topic. So, naturally, […]
An Indie Artist’s Feedback Loop
I am addicted to checking my email. I am definitely not addicted to responding to my email, as you know if you’ve ever tried to communicate with me. I live clean there, thank goodness. But I don’t think I’ve gone a day without checking my email in like five years. I get a dopamine hit […]
Lessons from Super Bowl LVIII Commercials
I was struck by a trend in this year’s Super Bowl commercials: A ton of them featured celebrities. If you watched the game (hello, 37% of my fellow Americans), I bet you noticed this, too. It felt like you couldn’t go a couple of seconds without seeing some famous person – and no, I’m not just […]
A Spotify Scam in 2024
Here are some words I wrote about a year ago: “I’m tired of artists calling things ‘scams.’ Most things just are not scams. Most people in this industry are trying really hard to do good work. I think our tendency to call things scams is symptomatic of an underlying cultural issue: We’re a grace-impoverished people.” […]
I might finally try TikTok this year.
I said “might,” okay? I’m still waffling, so don’t hold me to it. Truth be told, I still don’t like short-form video content in general, and I like TikTok in particular even less. I’m old, I’m grumpy, and I’m set in my ways, kind of like Tom Cruise in Maverick except with less charisma and aerial combat […]
Networking: A 2024 Hot Take
Networking. If I’m honest, the word makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit. It brings to mind chatty business bros, happy-hour events where the only socially acceptable topic of conversation is sales revenue, and, for some reason I can’t quite pin, lululemon. As you may guess, I don’t love networking as a […]
Indie Music Academy Review: Is Their Spotify Promotion Legit?
So, you’re here because you’re wondering… Is Indie Music Academy’s Spotify promotion service legit? Fair question. Here’s my quick answer: Yes, it’s legit. In fact, it’s my top Spotify promotion company for 2024 (out of about a dozen that I’ve tried). The backstory: I run Two Story Media, a PR firm focused on helping indie artists […]
How To Chart On Billboard in 2024
What Do I Know? As you might have already gathered from the aspirational title, this will be the second installment in my “Do As I Say, Not As I Do” collection of articles. I admit it: I haven’t charted on Billboard, in 2024 or any other year, but don’t let that dissuade you from listening […]
How To Get One Million Streams On Spotify
Clearing the Air Okay, let’s go ahead and acknowledge the elephant in the room before the vibe gets too awkward, because I’ve heard tell that unacknowledged room-elephants grow in size until they either force you out of the room or mercilessly crush you against its walls: I have not gotten one million streams on Spotify. […]
How to Get on Spotify’s Release Radar Playlist
Playlists are a vital part of gaining more streams on Spotify, and one fundamental playlist for independent and self-managed artists is the Release Radar. Imagine having 10,000 followers listening to your song on their Release Radar playlist the same week as your release; the exposure and impact the Release Radar playlist can provide for an […]
